Classroom News: Week of February 25th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

If you attended our math celebration of learning last Wednesday, thank you for fishing and doing math with us. What a fun night!

Last Wednesday we spent the afternoon in the Backyard Garden planting snap peas.  Students learned about hybrid and heirloom seeds and we talked about saving seeds in the fall versus depending on buying seeds every year.  We estimated the amount of peas in one package of seeds and then after looking at a subset of ten seeds we adjusted our estimates.  We figured out the total number of seeds by grouping in tens and ones, and then we figured out how many seeds would be in 3 packages of seeds.  If we planted the same number of seeds in each of six garden beds how many seeds would each group get.   

In math last week, the first graders worked on developing and writing lobster picture problems for their classmates to solve.  Second graders continued to review coin amounts and have been working on making a single amount under 99 cents in three or more different ways with coins.  This is a good activity to do at home for additional practice with this skill!  Students were also introduced to measuring in inches, as they fished for and measured trout and small mouth bass. 

We hope to help the Empty Bowls project here at school and will be cooking soup at the UCC in Forest Grove next Wednesday, March 6th.  Would you like to volunteer to help us with making soup?  Please send me an email if you are interested in helping.  Thank you!

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: Week of February 19th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Last week we spent a dry and sunny afternoon in the Ash Street Wetland with rangers from Metro.  We learned how to identify plants in the winter and studied red osiage dogwood, big leaf maple, black cottonwood, wild roses, bunch grass, and more.  Students tried wild rose hips, which are higher in vitamin C than oranges, and inspected galls.  We heard the song of the Pacific chorus (tree) frogs in the wet areas and students watched them hop around, in search of mates.  Students worked hard to use their 'owl eyes,' 'deer ears,' and 'fox feet' as they observed nature.

Students worked in reading groups and continue to be excited about reading and are eager to grow.  Story workshop is a favorite time of the day and students continue to find creative stories using the many available materials.  In math, the first graders worked on fact families for 10, 11, and 12.   The second graders continued playing the card game 'Make the Sum,' which helps students with fluency.  They also learned a new game called 'Dice Race,' which also gives students practice with fluency.  We reviewed coin names and values and are working on adding coins together in amounts under one dollar.

We celebrated love and friendship on Thursday afternoon.  Students exchanged friendship cards and we had a festive party, including healthy treats.  Thank you for donating, families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: February 11th continued...

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Part of my newsletter from yesterday did not show up on our classroom blog!  (I remember there being some type of glitch with needing to sign in with my personal gmail address, rather than my school email, in the middle of writing the letter and it somehow affected the Blogspot site.  It didn't save as I was editing and adding information.)

So, in addition to the long letter from yesterday, I noticed that a few very important details did not make it into the post.  We ARE going to Ash Street Wetlands tomorrow and students will need raincoats, rain boots, warm layers, and anything else that will help them stay comfortable, rain or shine.  We will be meeting with a ranger from Metro to learn more about observation skills and looking for signs of life at the seasonal wetland.  We will also learn more about wetland plants and animals.  We are beginning a wetland mammal study and hope to learn more about mammals that live at the Ash Street Wetland.  If you would like to join us, you are more than welcome!  We will be leaving the school close to 12:50 and will congregate along the B Street trail.

I also wanted to remind families about last week's post about Valentine's Day.  We will be having a little party on Thursday afternoon and students are welcome to make Valentines for all classmates.  If you would like to send a simple, healthy treat with your child for the party, it would be greatly appreciated! 

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: Week of February 11th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

We had a fun week!  On Wednesday afternoon Elina Payton, a local artist, visited our class to demonstrate how she makes and uses paints. It was a fun surprise to see that a lot of the ingredients she used were similar to what we have been experimenting with.  Elina helped the students to make their own homemade tempera and watercolor paint.  On Thursday morning we had the privilege of hearing Will Hornyak, a local storyteller, as he wove important facts and details about the environment, watersheds, stewardship and citizenship into his very entertaining stories.  We ended the week with singing our song at the all school meeting.  Have you been hearing your Barn Swallow sing it at home?  During math the first grade students played games that helped them to compare coin values, figuring out which combinations made more and which added up to less.  They also began working on addition fact families. Second graders learned a new math game that allowed students to work on their fluency with addition and subtraction.  It's a simple game that you can play with a deck of cards.  Be sure to ask your second grader how to play at home!

If you haven't already, you soon will receive the first semester report card. I hope you find the information in it helpful as you continue to support your child's development. Children develop skills at different ages and rates. Your child's report is designed to share with you how your child is progressing in our class and how your child's development compares with grade level standards. If you have questions or if you need greater explanation, please feel free to talk with me about it. I want to be sure that the report card is helpful in our continued partnership to help your child.

A note from a FGCS middle school student:  
Dear Parents of Children at Forest Grove Community School,            
I am an eighth grade student, Noah Tufts, working on my capstone project. Through this project, we’re supposed explore an interest we have while also making a connection to the community. We also need to get a mentor to help us. What I have decided to do for my project is to teach self-defense practices to all students at the school. I am a skilled martial artist (black belt level), and so is my mentor Mrs. Hansen. I won’t be teaching the kids anything dangerous or scary. We’ll talk about things like situational awareness; how to respond to strangers; and then a few simple drills of what to do if someone grabs you. In a survey of Oregon students, kids were asked if they would help a stranger find a lost puppy. Older kids said No, and most of the younger students did too. But when asked if they would help a stranger find a lost kitten, almost all younger kids said Yes. So, I want to help kids to learn that they should never go with strangers and other basic guidelines of safety. With Vanessa and Rick’s approval, I’ll be teaching students these guidelines during PE classes next week.

Noah Tufts

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Last week we added some new elements to our Story Workshop.  We added a snow animals workspace with moose, deer, wolves, foxes, rabbits, penguins and more.  Students are also now experimenting with wooden blocks, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and fabric scraps, in order to find stories.  It's wonderful to witness how quickly story ideas come to the students when a variety of creative materials are available.  In math, first graders worked on games to learn coin values, and practice making trades for pennies, nickels and quarters.  Second graders worked on math skills assessments.

We will have a Valentine card exchange on Thursday, February 14th and will have a small party with healthy foods.  If you and your child would like to bring something healthy for our party, we would welcome it!  Some great choices are cut up fruit, vegetables, dip, hummus, pretzels, cheese, nuts, and more healthy choices.  

Here is a list of the students in our class for Valentines.  Please do not send candy with the cards.  Valentine making is a great opportunity for kids to be creative at home!

Ava, Che, Cooper, Francis, Hannah, Jacob, Jamie, JP, Kalika, Lachlan, Lily, Mason, Max, Maya, Naomi, Natalie, Sam, Thatcher, Tommy, Ulee, and Zenzo

This Friday is a spirit day and it will be pajama day. (Your child may dress in pajamas, but doesn't have to.  If your child does come in pajamas, please be sure that they are able to play and do outdoor activities in them.)  Your child can bring a stuffed animal to read to during reading time on Friday.

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry